Sirul still tight-lipped on Altantuya's murder mastermind

Earlier this month, after nine years spent in immigration detention in Australia, the former police commando Sirul Azhar Umar was finally set free and now lives with his family in Canberra.

Despite this, he remained tight-lipped about the mystery surrounding who actually ordered the killing of the Mongolian national, Altantuya Shaariibuu.

“Okay. [For] many years, people in my country waiting about who gave the order. But until now, I cannot tell,” he told Al-Jazeera’s 101 East programme in an interview that was aired this morning.

Sirul (above) did not say why he could not reveal the identity of the purported murder mastermind.

Nevertheless, he said that his superior Azilah Hadri had told him that they were conducting a “special operation” for Najib Abdul Razak, who was the deputy prime minister and defence minister at the time.

He also revealed later in the programme that he had been paid for his silence in the past. And, despite being in relative safety in a faraway country, there were still attempts to “control” him.

‘Don’t want to lie’

“Until now, I have somebody [who] controls me. ‘Umar, you don't talk. You be silent.’

“This is Australia. Anybody can talk, isn't it? So, I take [the] position, I talk the true thing because I want to expose and then tell the truth now. I want to build a new life in Australia.

“I don't want to talk lies here,” he said.

Asked whom he was meant to protect with his silence, he replied, “Honestly, I’m going tell you specifically to protect the former (deputy) prime minister at that time, Mr Najib (Abdul Razak).

“So that's it. My answer.”

For the record, Najib has repeatedly denied involvement in Altantuya’s murder, claiming it was part of an international conspiracy to depose him.

Altantuya was abducted and murdered in Shah Alam in October 2006; her remains were blown up with military-grade explosives.

Two of Najib’s bodyguards - Sirul and Azilah Hadri - were convicted of the murder in 2009, but the Court of Appeal overturned the conviction in 2013 and ordered the pair’s release.

While the prosecution appealed its case, Sirul had fled to Australia where he now resides. The Federal Court would later uphold the pair’s conviction and reinstate the mandatory death penalty.

Azilah is currently on death row in Sungai Buloh Prison. While on death row, he had claimed Najib had ordered him to “arrest and destroy” Altantuya, who was described as a “foreign spy”.

Meanwhile, Sirul was arrested and detained by Australian authorities in January 2015 because of the Interpol red notice issued against him and for overstaying his tourist visa.

However, Australia could not extradite Sirul to Malaysia because of its policy not to deport people facing the death penalty to their country of origin.

Although Malaysia has abolished the mandatory death penalty and has imposed a moratorium against carrying out executions, the death penalty itself has not been repealed.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had said the onus is on Sirul, through his lawyers, to apply for the court to commute his sentence to imprisonment.

If he does not apply or the court rejects his application, the minister conceded that Sirul would likely remain a free man in Australia.

On Nov 8, the Australian High Court ruled that indefinite immigration detention is unlawful, though the government may impose appropriate visa conditions to protect the local community.

This reportedly resulted in the release of 92 people including Sirul.

101 East, which filmed the interview just two days after Sirul’s release, reported that the Australian government has not imposed any curfew requirements or tracking devices on him.

However, the Associated Press reported that Australia has since passed emergency laws on Nov 16 to impose these restrictions on the newly released detainees.

Apologising to Altantuya’s family

Meanwhile, Sirul spoke about his fear of returning to Malaysia and pleaded for acceptance in Canberra.

“I feel in danger there because I’m aware that it’s truly unsafe for me to return. Whatever happens, I want to build a life with my child here in Australia.

“I'm appealing to the community here. Please accept me. I promised my son I would never, ever breach the law here. I follow everything. Please accept me, who I am here.

“I love Australia, really. From my heart, from my soul. Give me a second chance.

“One more thing. I’m going to apologise to the family of the deceased. You know, Altantuya. Please forgive me. That's it.”

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